According to reports in Germany, Hannover are concerned about the state of Forssell's troublesome knees.

The Bundesliga side were hopeful of agreeing his transfer this week, but now the switch has been put on ice. Blues had agreed to give Forssell a sum of money to go as he didn't ask for a transfer.

And that helped sooth the salary outlay for Hannover, who were unable to offer Forssell the #25,000-a-week he was earning at Blues. But it appeared today that the striker was staying at St Andrew's.

The Finland international, who has dropped down the pecking order at Blues, has a year left on his contract with a two or three-year option, depending on the club's league status.

Manager Steve Bruce had hoped that money raised would go towards his summer budget, which was set to be arranged at the traditional end-of-season board meeting today.

Already #2million, rising to a potential #4million, has been spent on making midfielder Fabrice Muamba's loan from Arsenal permanent.

Blues have been linked with dozens of players since winning promotion from the Championship.

The most recent speculation centred on a double swoop for Villa's Liam Ridgewell and Jlloyd Samuel. However, although a proposed #2million transfer for Ridgewell foundered in January (Blues wanted to take him on loan initially after the board did a late U-turn and decided to sell Matthew Upson to West Ham United), they are looking at other options for centre-half.

And left-back Samuel, who is to be available on a free transfer, is not attracting serious interest from Blues.

Meanwhile, of the four young professionals who have been offered new one-year contracts, only attacking midfielder David Howland has agreed terms.